Staying Healthy at American University: Ten Tips for Students
Taking care of yourself expands beyond healthy diet and exercise.

October 23, 2017

Runners on the National Mall.

From yoga classes to
farmers markets, American University—and Washington, DC—offer great
opportunities to help students stay healthy during their time here. Here are ten
tips from the Department of Health Studies and the Student Wellness Center.
They can help you make the most of the resources on and off campus— and help
you stay fit and healthy.

1.
Stay active.

All Students have AU RecFit
Membership. Head over to one of the three gyms on campus for some cardio,
weights, or a wide variety of group exercise opportunities. AU RecFit offers
services to help motivate and guide your workout.

If the gym is not your
scene, AU RecFit's Fitness
Trail on campus can help take your workout outdoors.

2.
Enjoy nature.

Getting fresh air and
beautiful views is an easy alternative way to manage stress.

Did you know that the AU
campus is a designated arboretum and public
garden? Right here on campus you can surround yourself with nature by taking an
Arboretum Tour
with AU's Facilities & Grounds staff.

Off campus, you can enjoy
local trails and hikes including Great Falls, Rock Creek Park, and Glover Archibald
Trail.

3.
Relax and unwind.

Whether you attend a yoga class through AU
RecFit or for credit or practice meditation and mindfulness with the help of @MindfulEagles, taking time to
step away from stressors is a great way to take care of yourself. It can even
be as simple as sitting down to color—you can get coloring books and pages from
the Wellness
Center.

4.
Don't break the bank.

Take advantage of your
U-Pass and explore many of the free things in this great city! With Smithsonian museums, monuments, and many other
historic sites available at no cost, you can never be bored without cash. Kill
two birds with one stone and check out the free exercise opportunities in the
District, like Free yoga on the National Mall.

5.
Volunteer and help others.

Helping others is a
wonderful way to take care of yourself. DC offers many opportunities to reach
out to the community: Capital Food
Bank, Martha's Table, Ronald McDonald House and A Wider Circle, just to name a few. For
more, connect with the Center
for Community Engagement and Service right here on campus.

6.
Stay well spiritually.

Since spiritual wellness
involves one's values and beliefs that help shape one's purpose in life, it can
be achieved in several different ways, including, but not limited to, religious
practices. American University's Kay
Spiritual Life Center is a great place to feel comfortable in all practices
and asking questions to learn more about your unique way of tapping into your
spirituality. If you are looking off campus, there are many local places of
worship for all denominations very close to AU.

7.
Interact with your peers.

Put yourself out there to
get active, learn something new, and find groups of people who enjoy similar
activities and passions with one of AU's 250+ student
organizations including dance groups, intramurals or club sports, and
student government. Participating in social group activities is a great way to
build positive relationships and bring you joy.

8.
Appreciate the Arts.

There are many well-known
and non-so-well-known places to connect with your creative side in DC. Around
every corner you can find scheduled showings and impromptu street performance.
If hunting down quirky galleries
and theatres is not your
thing, you can find new art exhibits on campus at the Katzen Arts Center or catch a
play at the Greenberg Theatre.

9.
Eat fresh, local food.

Eat well, feel great! Adventure
out into the city to find your favorite DC market to buy fresh fruits,
vegetables, meats, breads, cheeses and more. Be sure to check out the AhealthyU
Farmers
Market right here on campus every Wednesday during the academic year.

10.
Stay educated about wellness.

A crucial component to
taking care of yourself is to never stop learning, especially when it comes to
your health. For more fun ways to take care of yourself, guidance in all
aspects of health and a safe place to ask questions and learn, the Wellness
Center and their Peer Wellness Educators, Student Health Center and Recreational Sports and
Fitness Wellness Ambassadors are great campus resources.